I'm a pop culture geek, married to a non-geek, "normie" guy. I also like cooking and crafts. My own crochet patterns posted here. Please be respectful of my work and keep in mind that most of those crochet patterns have only been made once or twice. If you find a mistake, let me know. If you make something, please send me a link back.
If this blog still isn't enough of me for you, check Geek Crafts for even more of me on Saturdays under AmyLynn98, or find me on Twitter at @JediAmyLynn98.

Anyway, this made me happy to work on. He asked that the bag be made out of red material for two reasons:
1. The bag would be kept in his saddlebags and would probably get dirty.
2. Since the insides of the bags are dark and black, red might show up a little better.

I used half of a bandana I picked up today at A.C. Moore and then cut it in half to get the size right. The drawstring is actually a length of a red cord-like ribbon that, I think, I kept from some kind of bath body product/gift in the last year (I save all my ribbons from everything).

I think this whole project might have taken all of 15 minutes to make.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Sunday, July 10, 2011

This little hat jumped in line between the Minion and curtain I'm working on, and actually goes along with the lighter colored gender neutral blanket. I realized I needed a baby girl hat for part of the twin's gifts and decided to make one yesterday. The little boy's hat is a light blue and tan pastel kind of camouflage looking print.

My original thought had been to make a matching pink beanie with a bow on it and call it done. But I couldn't stop there. Inspiration struck and I decided to make a Hello Kitty beanie with ear flaps instead.

How interesting that the canister of shells was such a close fit for this little hat!

Excuse the shitty pictures today. I was too lazy again to get the card reader for my camera, so these are cell phone pictures instead.

Beg ch 2 does not count as a st in this pattern. Do not turn after end of each row unless indicated.

Hat
Beginning at top of hat, make a magic circle with the G sized hook and the light pink yarn (1 chain and 4 SC), sl st in first ch to form ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 2, work 2 dc in stitch around (including the joining stitch). Join with a sl st in first dc. The chain 2’s always count as your first DC.
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around, join with a sl st in first dc. Join with a sl st in first dc.
Rnds 3-4: Ch 2, dc in first st, *2dc in next st, dc in next st, repeat from * around. Join with a sl st in first dc. Rnds 5-6: Ch 2, *dc in first two sts, 2dc in next st, repeat from * around. Join with a sl st in first dc.
Rnds 7-13: Ch 2, dc in each st around, join with a sl st in first dc. 52 sts. Do not turn at end of last row. Make the “seam” of joining the rounds be the back of the hat.

To make the first ear flap
Rnd 14: Continue with the G sized hook. Ch 1, work 13 SC in as many stitches around. Then work 1 HDC, 2 DC and 1 HDC, and 1 SC in the same amount of stitches. Chain 1 and turn the hat around.
Rnd 15: Work 1 slip stitch, 1 SC, 1 HDC, 1 DC, 1 HDC, and 2 SC in as many stitches. End with a slip stitch, chain 1 and turn the hat around.
Rnd 16: Work the first 2 SCtog, 1 HDC, 1 DC, 1 HDC, and the last 2 SCtog in as many stitches. End with a slip stitch, chain 1 and turn the hat around.
Rnd 17: Work the first 2 SCtog, 2 HDC,, and the last 2 SCtog in as many stitches. End with a slip stitch and fasten off the yarn.

To make the second ear flap
Rnd 14: Turn the hat around and from the center where you started this row for the first earflap, join the yarn with a slip stitch and work 13 SC in as many stitches around. Then work 1 HDC, 2 DC and 1 HDC, and 1 SC in the same amount of stitches. Chain 1 and turn the hat around.
Rnd 15: Work 1 slip stitch, 1 SC, 1 HDC, 1 DC, 1 HDC, and 2 SC in as many stitches. End with a slip stitch, chain 1 and turn the hat around.
Rnd 16: Work the first 2 SCtog, 1 HDC, 1 DC, 1 HDC, and the last 2 SCtog in as many stitches. End with a slip stitch, chain 1 and turn the hat around.
Rnd 17: Work the first 2 SCtog, 2 HDC, and the last 2 SCtog in as many stitches. End with a slip stitch and fasten off the yarn.

Edging
With the G sized hook and the darker pink yarn, attach with a slip stitch in the corner behind one of the ear flaps. Work 1 SC in each stitch around (work 2 SC in the corners around the earflaps) and join the beginning and end with a slip stitch. Fasten off the yarn.

If you don’t think the earflaps are long enough to cover little ears, reattach the darker pink yarn with a slip stitch behind the earflaps and work this sequence around the bottom of the flaps: 1 SC, 3 HDC, 3 DC, 3 HDC, 1 SC, and 1 slip stitch. Turn the hat and work SC’s around the earflap to finish off.

Bow
Rnd 1: With the G sized hook and the darker pink yarn, chain 16.
Rnd 2: Turn and starting in the third chain from the hook, work 1 HDC in each stitch across. Chain 2 and turn piece.
Rnds 3-7: Work 1 HDC in each stitch across. Chain 2 and turn piece. Fasten off yarn at the end of row 6.

Part 2 (Center of the bow):
Rnd 1: With the G sized hook and the darker pink yarn, leave a length of a couple inches of yarn and chain 11.
Rnd 2: Turn and starting in the second chain from the hook, work 1 CC in each stitch across. Chain 1 and turn piece.
Rnds 3-5: Work 1 SC in each stitch across. Fasten off yarn.

Decide on the front and back of the bow, and sew bow center around, gathering the middle of the bow. Secure the center of the bow on the back, using the extra length you started with. Leave any lengths of yarn to sew to the hat later.

Ears (Make 2)
Rnd 1: With the G sized hook and the light pink yarn, leave a length of a couple inches of yarn and chain 10.
Rnd 2: Turn and starting in the second chain from the hook, work 1 SC in each stitch across. Chain 1 and turn piece.
Rnd 3: Work 1 SC in each stitch across (the chain 1 from the previous row will count as the first SC). Chain 1 and turn piece.
Rnds 4-6: Work the first 2 SCtog, work 1 SC in each stitch across, and the last 2SCtog. Chain 1 and turn piece.
Rnd 7: Work the first 2 SCtog and work 1 SC. End with a slip stitch and fasten off the yarn.

Nose
Rnd 1: Make a magic circle with the F sized hook and the yellow yarn (1 chain and 4 SC), sl st in first ch to form ring.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 SC in each st around, join with a sl st in first dc. Join with a sl st in first SC and fasten off the yarn.

Eyes (Make 2) Rnd 1: With the F sized hook and the black yarn, chain 3. Turn piece.
Rnd 2: Working in the second chain from the hook, work 1 SC in the next stitch and work 5 SC in the last stitch.
Rnd 3: Work on the opposite side of the chain. Work 2 SC in as many stitches and end with a slip stitch. Chain 1.
Rnd 4: Working around the oval eye, work 2 SC in the top stitch, 1 SC in each stitch around, 2 SC in the bottom stitch, and 1 SC in each of the remaining stitches. Finish off with a slip stitch. The eyes should be oval.

Ear Flap Ties (Make 2)With the yellow, light pink and darker pink yarns, cut lengths of 48” each and then double over. Stick one of the crochet hooks (size doesn’t matter here) through the bottom center of one of the earflaps from the inside out and catch the loop where the yarns are doubled over together. Attach the yarns as if you were making a tassel. Pull the yarns snug, divide by color and braid. Secure the end with a single knot and trim if necessary.

To Attach Pieces:Press the hat flat, front to back. The ears are placed wide across the top of the head, with the inside edges of the ears about 1 ¼” away from the center of the magic circle you started with.

Find the horizontal center. Place the eyes on that horizon below the inside corners of the ears so the ovals are taller than wide. Sew them on through the outer edges.

Center the nose between the eyes so that the top edge of the nose is level with the bottom edge of the eyes. Sew it on through the outer edges

Thread the yarn needle with the black yarn, and embroider on three whiskers on the outside of each eye.

Attach the bow under the hat’s left ear so the bow’s band is centered below the ear.

Damn it, there are some CREATIVE people out there! I am humbled by others creativity with all things artistic.

A pdf pattern to make a crochet scooter. This one is modeled after a late 60's early 70's Vespa Primavera. Finished dimensions approximately 5" x 3" x 2".

I was looking through a site called Scoot Pink this morning (a fun site but one that I think has shut down, along with it's sister site, ScooterSeatCovers.com), when I saw the photo above. It's the "Scootie Pie" crochet pattern, created by maliamather of Amsterdam, Netherland. The link will take you to maliamather's Etsy store.

This pattern sold in 2008, so it's not even remotely new. But I emailed her to say I needed this pattern. I want to be able to turn it into my scooter, which isn't pink, technically, but it's official color is Raspberry Metallic. In the sun, it tends to look like a fruity red tone though.

UPDATE ON THIS PATTERN
Malia emailed me last night with this link, so I can buy her pattern straight from her Ravelry site. It's only $2 via Paypal and now I'm just eagerly waiting the email delivery of the pattern.

Good Geek Quotes To Live By

“Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. It’s basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating.”

--Simon Pegg

"Being a fangirl or a nerd means that you’re not afraid to love things. That’s what it really gets down to: a conscious decision to not let societal stigma tell you how appropriate your feelings are or are not."--Sara @ Fantastic Fangirls

"Wil Wheaton Says: Don't be a dick"--Wil Wheaton

"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."